title: Transient suppression of GABAA-receptor-mediated IPSPs after epileptiform burst discharges in CA1 pyramidal cells.
abstract: Epileptiform burst discharges were elicited in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells in the slice preparation by perfusion with Mg2+-free saline. Intracellular recordings revealed paroxysmal depolarization shifts (PDSs) that either occurred spontaneously or were evoked by stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. These bursts involved activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors because burst discharges were reduced or abolished by -2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. Bath application of carbachol caused an increase in spontaneous activity that was predominantly due to gamma-aminobutyric acid-A-receptor-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (sIPSPs). A marked reduction in sIPSPs (31%) was observed after each epileptiform burst discharge, which subsequently recovered to preburst levels after approximately 4-20 s. This sIPSP suppression was not associated with any change in postsynaptic membrane conductance. A suppression of sIPSPs also was seen after burst discharges evoked by brief (100-200 ms) depolarizing current pulses. N-ethylmaleimide, which blocks pertussis-toxin-sensitive G proteins, significantly reduced the suppression of sIPSPs seen after a burst response. When increases in intracellular Ca2+ were buffered by intracellular injection of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl)ether-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, the sIPSP suppression seen after a single spontaneous or evoked burst discharge was abolished. Although we cannot exclude other Ca2+-dependent mechanisms, this suppression of sIPSPs shared many of the characteristics of depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI) in that it involved activation of G proteins and was dependent on increases in intracellular calcium. These findings suggest that a DSI-like process may be activated by the endogenous burst firing of CA1 pyramidal neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Beau
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Alger
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008274:Magnesium / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002217:Carbachol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D008274:Magnesium; D005033:Ethylmaleimide; D002118:Calcium